Nurses at Cuddalore Govt Hospital protest over night shift rotation

Cuddalore: Around 40 nurses at the District Government Medical College Hospital in Annamalai Nagar, Chidambaram, staged a sit-in protest, voicing concerns over the uneven distribution of night shifts. The protesting nurses claimed that the unequal distribution had taken a toll on their mental health, leading to severe stress.

Demanding a fair rotation of night shift duties, the group of nurses employed at the hospital launched the demonstration by sitting inside the hospital premises on Wednesday morning. TNIE sources said over 250 nurses are employed at the hospital, but around 40 of them were being assigned night duty disproportionately. 

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After enduring severe mental stress from the uneven night shifts that forced them to work relentlessly, the nurses decided to speak out, unable to bear the pressure any longer.

The protest quickly gained support from key figures such as Pandian, president of the hospital’s government employees’ union, and John, its secretary. Professor Balamurugan, the JACTO-GEO coordinator, also joined the protest to extend his support, TNIE reports.  

However, the demonstration caused a brief stir at the hospital, with hospital administrators stepping in to address the situation. College dean Dr. C Thirupathi and hospital superintendent Dr. Junior Sundaresh, along with senior doctors, discussed with the protesting nurses.

After a constructive dialogue, the authorities promised to ensure a fairer and more balanced rotation of night shifts for all staff. By the afternoon, following the assurances from the hospital administration, the nurses decided to call off their protest and return to their duties.

Medical Dialogues had previously reported that the Director of Nursing has directed the heads of all state-run healthcare facilities to take action against the nursing officers as per Odisha Essential Services (Maintenance) Act in response to the Odisha Nursing Employees’ Association (ONEA) announcing a two-day cease work protest due to the lack of consideration for their demands, the Director of Nursing has directed the heads of all state-run healthcare facilities to take action against the nursing officers as per Odisha Essential Services (Maintenance) Act. Nursing staff of state-run hospitals and healthcare centres in Odisha announced a two-day agitation over their 10-point demand that includes regularisation of contractual workers and scrapping of outsourcing.

Also read- Odisha nurses launch 2-day protest, Govt directs Hospitals to take action under ESMA